12 Best Business Laptops in the UK for 2024 Ranked

The best business laptop needs to offer good performance, security features to protect your sensitive data, and a battery that will last for at least a full workday on a single charge. It should ideally also be light and compact so you can easily carry it with you and get work done on the go.

There are thousands of laptop models on the market, and the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. To narrow down your search and help you make an informed decision, we’ve selected, reviewed, and compared the top 12 laptops for business in 2024 so you can find the best business laptop for you.

Ranking the UK’s Best Laptops for Business

Here’s our full list of the best laptops for business use in the UK in 2024:

1. Apple 2020 MacBook Air — Overall, the best laptop for business with a super-fast eight-core processor, a stunning Retina Display, and easy pairing with your other Apple devices.
2. Acer Aspire 5 — The perfect balance of performance and price, with extensive connectivity options, a full backlit keyboard, and excellent battery life.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 — The best cheap business Laptop, which is light and compact and perfect for busy professionals who frequently travel.
4. Lenovo Flex 5 14″ — Sturdy and durable 2-in-1 laptop with a decent battery life, a gorgeous display, and a high-quality webcam with a built-in noise-cancelling microphone.
5. ASUS ZenBook Flip — A great option for graphic designers, writers, and editors who want a powerful machine with great connectivity options and multitasking support.
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 — A high-end laptop with advanced security features and all the key Microsoft apps pre-installed, so you can get to work the moment you turn it on.
7. ASUS Vivobook 15 — A decent all-rounder with a stylish keyboard and ErgoLift hinges for maximum comfort when typing at a desk.
8. HP Stream 11 — Small, light, compact, and affordable, this machine is perfect for digital nomads who never stay in one location for too long.
9. HUAWEI MateBook X Pro EVO — A gorgeous premium laptop with incredible specs and desktop-level performance that’s perfect for video editing, 3D modelling, and graphic design.
10. Dell Inspiron 15 — This device offers great value for money and excellent connectivity options, including an HDMI port and one-click Bluetooth setup.
11. ASUS Chromebook Flip C433TA — A solid mid-range 2-in-1 Chromebook with a highly responsive keyboard, which is perfect for writers, editors, and social media managers.
12. HUAWEI MateBook D15 — Solid performance, improved cooling, and a great 15.6″ flicker-free display with anti-glare and blue light protection to minimise eye fatigue.

What’s the Difference Between a Laptop and a Business Laptop?

While there are some differences between consumer laptops and business laptops, consumer machines are also often used for work.

What typically separates the two categories is battery life since models designed for business use and travelling need to last for at least a full day on a single change to support the lifestyle of busy professionals.

Laptops marketed for business use often come with more powerful components – primarily the CPU and GPU, as well as more RAM.

This is the case because some apps and programs people use for work can be very resource-intensive, so the laptops need to have enough power to run them without overheating or slowing down.

What Operating System is Best for Business Laptops?

There are a few key differences between operating systems, but the choice ultimately comes down to what apps and programs you’ll be using in your day-to-day work and what security features you want.

Windows is the most widely used operating system, but it’s also much more prone to security vulnerabilities than macOS and Linux. In short, you’d be wise to invest in the best antivirus software and one of the best UK VPNs to ensure your sensitive business data remains protected.

macOS, on the other hand, is more secure, but the downside is that Macbooks are usually a fair bit more expensive than Windows laptops. Additionally, macOS has its own ecosystem of apps, so you might not be able to install every app you need for work on a Mac laptop.

Linux is by far the most secure, but it’s also the most difficult to set up and navigate. You’d need decent computing knowledge to properly utilise Linux, though the level of security it offers is definitely worth it.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the advantages and drawbacks of these three operating systems:

The fourth option is ChromeOS, which is exclusive to Chromebooks. The key advantage of this operating system is that you can easily log into your Google business account and get access to all your files, folders, and documents stored on Google Drive.

ChromeOS is similar in terms of functionality to macOS, in that your options are generally limited to the apps available on Google Play.

This isn’t an issue if you’re using apps like Slack and Zoom and working in Google Docs, but if you need to install more complex programs for 3D animation, video editing, graphic design, and so on, then ChromeOS isn’t a good option.

The Top 12 Best Laptops for Work Reviewed for 2024

Here are in-depth reviews of the 12 best business laptops in the UK for 2024 so you can see what each model offers, compare them, and choose the one that’s best for you.

1. Apple 2020 MacBook Air — Overall, the Best Laptop for Business

The Apple 2020 MacBook Air is a super-fast, powerful business laptop that offers superb performance, ironclad security, a stunning 13″ Retina Display, and all-day battery life.

It’s also compatible with all the apps you might need for work, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, and Google Drive, as well as all apps and programs from the App Store.

This model features the Apple M1 chip with an octa-core processor, which enables significantly faster performance than the previous generation, all the while consuming less power. It also features 8 Gb of RAM, so the laptop will easily handle even the most resource-intensive apps.

The 13.3″ Retina Display makes the Apple 2020 MacBook Air an excellent choice for graphic designers, writers, and editors since it ensures super-clear text and makes colours bright and vibrant.

Another advantage of the Apple 2020 MacBook Air is that it can easily be paired with your other Apple devices. You can connect your iPad and iPhone to extend your workspace, send text to your laptop, and even answer business phone calls.

That said, this model has one drawback that you should be aware of, which is the MacBook Air’s cooling system.

While Apple advertises the laptop’s “fanless design” as a feature, the single vent struggles with heat dispersal, and the laptop can get warm. Nevertheless, the Apple 2020 MacBook Air is a stylish pick and a great machine for freelancers and people on the go.

2. Acer Aspire 5 — The Perfect Balance of Performance and Price

The Acer Aspire 5 is an excellent mid-range laptop, so it’s one of the best options if you’re looking for a perfect balance between performance and budget. The laptop is equipped with a powerful Ryzen 3 3200U processor and 4 Gb of SDRAM, so it can handle typical work apps like Slack, Zoom, Airtable, and Google Docs with ease.

For the relatively affordable price, you get a 15.6″ ComfyView Full HD display, which is great for work and entertainment. It also reduces eye fatigue, so you won’t feel strain even after working a full eight-hour shift with this laptop.

The screen has a matte finish, which helps with reflections, but with a peak brightness of just 250 nits, you might still have trouble with using the display in direct sunlight.

You’ll love this laptop’s backlit keyboard. It almost takes up the whole of the laptop’s base, which is perfect if you’re switching from a desktop PC since the keys aren’t as narrow as with most laptops. The laptop includes function keys and a full numpad as well, so it’s a good option for people working with spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel or similar.

The touchpad is a bit more robust than you’d expect from an ordinary laptop, so it takes a bit more force to register a mouse click, and it’s a bit louder than most. This can either be a pro or a con, depending on what you’re used to, but since the Acer Aspire 5 has four USB ports, you can always plug in a mouse if you prefer.

When it comes to battery life, the Acer Aspire 5 can last over 11 hours on a single charge, so you’ll have no problem going a full workday without having to worry about looking for a power outlet. Given its affordable price, we also rate it as one of the best laptops for students.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 — Best Cheap Business Laptop 

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a super-affordable, small, lightweight, and portable business model, making it the best laptop for business travel on our list. It can easily fit into your backpack or laptop case, and its battery lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, so you’ll easily be able to get all your work done on the go.

The main selling point of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is its convenience. It relies on ChromeOS, so there’s no additional setup or configuration required — all you need to do is log into your existing Google business account.

You’ll have instant access to all of your files, folders, and docs, and your business inbox, and you’ll be able to continue work right where you left off. You can also quickly download and install any app from the Google Play store, so you’ll have everything you need to stay productive.

The laptop features a built-in 720p webcam and dual stereo speakers, so you’ll be able to immediately hop onto video conferences with your team and clients.

One thing to note about this model is that it only comes with 64 Gb of storage, but it does have a microSD card slot, so you can always upgrade the storage if you need more space for your work documents. Alternatively, you can store everything on Google Drive and use the built-in storage exclusively for apps.

A great aspect of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is the fact that you can switch between the device’s laptop and tablet modes with ease. The tablet mode can be very convenient for entertainment and enables you to switch to touch-and-pen mode for making notes and drawing diagrams.

4. Lenovo Flex 5 14″ — Sturdy and Durable 2-in-1 Laptop With Decent Battery Life

The Lenovo Flex 5 14″ is a stylish, 360° convertible laptop that offers incredible performance at a reasonable price. It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 U-series processor and 8 Gb of RAM, so it will easily handle even the most resource-intensive programs and apps and allow you to stay productive on the go.

Despite its sleek design, the Lenovo Flex 5 is extremely durable, with an average lifespan of between five and seven years, so it easily outlasts most other laptops in its price range.

What you’ll love about this model is the gorgeous WUXGA display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, vivid colours, and excellent viewing angles. The one downside is the 300 nits maximum brightness, so you’d have to make sure the sun isn’t hitting your laptop’s screen directly if you want to avoid glossy reflections.

This model also features a Full HD camera with a privacy shutter and has built-in smart noise-cancellation, so you’ll be ready to hop on video calls right away without having to invest in a standalone webcam, microphone, or headphones.

With an average battery life of over 10 hours, the Lenovo Flex 5 is perfect for busy professionals who are always travelling and need a reliable way to get work done anytime, anywhere.

An additional benefit of this model is that it supports the Rapid Charge technology, so you can get up to two hours of battery life after charging it for just 15 minutes.

5. ASUS ZenBook Flip — Great Option for Graphic Designers, Writers, and Editors 

The ASUS ZenBook Flip is a great 2-in-1 laptop with impressive specs, a gorgeous display, WiFi 6 support, excellent battery life, and a variety of connectivity options.

This model will immediately catch your eye with its slim, professional look, thanks to the aluminium chassis with narrow bezels and the large OLED screen. In addition to looking great, the ASUS ZenBook Flip is extremely durable.

The metal hinges are smooth yet super-solid, so you won’t experience any screen wobble and won’t have any issues when converting between laptop and tablet modes.

The 13.3″ OLED touchscreen is sharp, and the display is capable of producing vivid, true-to-life colours, so it’s perfect for both creative work like graphic design as well as entertainment.

 

You can also multitask on this gorgeous laptop since there’s enough screen real estate to run two apps side by side.

The screen refresh rate of the ASUS ZenBook Flip is 90 Hz, so it’s also a great option for playing your favourite games at high fps (frames per second) in your downtime.

The keyboard and touchpad are also excellent — they’re very responsive, spacious, and made from high-quality materials, making the ASUS ZenBook Flip the best business laptop in the UK for writers and editors.

You’ll also be ready to hop onto online calls and videoconferences, thanks to the built-in stereo speakers, a high-quality webcam, and a decent microphone.

Another strong suit of the ASUS ZenBook Flip is its connectivity. You’ll have 3 USB ports at your disposal, a Thunderbolt 4 port and an HDMI 2.1 port if you want to connect your laptop to a bigger screen. This model supports WiFi 6E, so you can expect a super-fast internet connection.

6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 — High-End Laptop With Advanced Security Features and All Key Microsoft Apps Pre-Installed

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a super-thin work laptop designed for extreme convenience and superb performance. This gorgeous laptop is powered by an Intel EVO 12th Gen Core i7 and 16 Gb of RAM, so it’s lightning fast, allowing you to easily multitask and achieve peak productivity.

One of the strongest suits of this laptop by Microsoft is its IPS-panel PixelSense touchscreen, which is further enhanced by Dolby Vision to provide crisp, clear images with true-to-life colours.

This makes it an ideal choice for graphic design and other creative projects where colour accuracy is paramount. It also makes it an excellent choice for streaming your favourite online content or playing next-gen video games.

Another reason to opt for this model is the built-in security, including everything from Microsoft-maintained firmware and drivers to advanced technologies like virtualisation-based security (VBS) and Hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), which act as an additional layer of security against malware by running sensitive operations in an isolated environment.

An added benefit of a Microsoft laptop is that you’ll have all the tools you need for work pre-installed on the device. This includes the Windows 11 operating system, every app in the Microsoft Office 365 tool kit, and Microsoft Teams online chat.

If you often participate in video calls with your team members or clients, you’ll also appreciate the professional-level HD camera with smart face-tracking features, which ensures that you’re always in focus and that you look your best during video conference calls.

7. ASUS Vivobook 15 — Decent All-Rounder With a Super-Comfortable Keyboard and ErgoLift Hinges

The ASUS Vivobook 15 is another decent mid-range option, especially if you’re looking for a laptop with a larger Full HD screen, wide viewing angles (178°), a comfortable backlit keyboard, and plenty of ports for effortless connectivity.

ASUS has fit a whole numpad on this model’s keyboard, in addition to the functions keys, which is great news for anyone working with spreadsheets.

Another benefit of this model is the fact that it features the ErgoLift hinge, a proprietary innovation carried over from ASUS ROG gaming laptops, which slightly elevates the screen.

This makes it a lot more comfortable if you spend hours typing on the laptop, as you won’t need to lower your head and put pressure on your neck muscles when seated at a desk.

When it comes to performance, the ASUS Vivobook 15 beats competing notebooks in the same price range by a small margin, especially if you opt for the 16 Gb RAM version. That said, it comes with integrated Intel UHD Graphics, so it’s not the best choice for video editing, 3D modelling, or gaming.

Battery life is an issue, however. While other models can easily run for more than 10 hours, the ASUS Vivobook 15 barely lasts six on a full charge.

That said, if you’re almost exclusively working from home or an office where plugging in the laptop isn’t an issue, the level of performance you get with this model is a worthwhile tradeoff for the lower-than-average battery life.

8. HP Stream 11 — Small, Light, Compact, and Affordable

The HP Stream 11 is one of the best budget business laptop models on the market, perfect for people looking for a light and portable solution for day-to-day business tasks. This 11″ model is also super light and compact, so it’s perfect for digital nomads who frequently change locations.

The machine comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron processor, 4 Gb of RAM, and 64 Gb of eMMC storage. Since both RAM and storage are embedded, and there are no additional slots, you won’t be able to upgrade them.

So, while this mini laptop is great for simple tasks like answering emails, working in spreadsheets, and writing in Google Docs, it’s not the best option if you rely on complex, resource-intensive programs for your work.

Another thing to note is that you’ll likely have to rely on cloud storage for all your work files, given that Windows 11 Home, the operating system it comes with, takes up more than 27 Gb of the limited storage space.

While this isn’t uncommon for HP business laptops, it’s certainly a nuisance, as well as an additional expense, unless your company is paying for cloud storage.

What’s great about this laptop, though, is its incredible battery life. You’ll be able to use it for up to 13 hours on a single charge, so you won’t have to worry about constantly looking for a power outlet.

The HP Stream 11 also comes with the Microsoft 365 Office suite pre-installed, so you’ll be able to start working in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint the moment you turn on the laptop.

9. HUAWEI MateBook X Pro EVO — Gorgeous Premium Laptop With Incredible Specs and Desktop-Level Performance

The HUAWEI MateBook X Pro EVO is an absolute powerhouse, boasting a 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16 Gb of RAM, and a 1 Tb SSD, all the while being super light, weighing only 1.3 kg.

This premium laptop features a 14.2″ FullView display with a 3120 X 2080 pixel resolution. It can display over 1.7 billion colours, and you can expect bright, vivid, true-to-life images and videos. This makes it ideal for videography, 3D modelling, graphic design, and other visually creative jobs.

Another area this laptop excels in is connectivity. In addition to two Thunderbolt 4, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack, it can wirelessly connect to your tablet or monitor to help you unlock your creativity or review your work on a larger screen.

You’ll also love this laptop if you frequently host or join video conferences with clients and business partners. In addition to the professional quality webcam, the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro EVO offers a variety of useful features to further enhance your video calls.

These include everything from auto-centring the camera on the speaker and adjusting the video quality on the amount of natural light to letting you switch between a variety of gorgeous backgrounds with a single click.

One thing worth noting with this laptop is that it’s not the most power-efficient of the bunch. At maximum screen brightness, the battery barely lasts over six hours, so if you opt for this model, expect to keep the laptop charger next to you at all times.

10. Dell Inspiron 15 — Great Value for Money and Excellent Connectivity Options

The Dell Inspiron 15 is sleek, lightweight, and easy to carry around wherever you go. It offers a ton of power for the price, thanks to an 11th-gen i7 processor and 16 Gb of RAM, so the value you get for your money is unparalleled.

The design of this laptop is simple and bland, with thick bezels, but if you’re more concerned with performance than looks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more powerful laptop for under £500.

That said, the 120 Hz refresh rate, 1080p IPS panel might not be a good fit for everyone. While the brightness and contrast are good, the black uniformity isn’t the best, so the laptop will struggle with shades and dark scenes.

While the overall image quality is good enough for casual browsing, entertainment, and most day-to-day business tasks, it’s not the best option for image and video editing or graphic design.

With the Dell Inspiron 15, you’ll have a wide selection of ports at your disposal. These include a standard USB 2 port, a USB 3 port, a USB-C port, an SD card reader, and an HDMI port if you want to connect the laptop to a bigger screen.

There’s also a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a one-click Bluetooth setup to quickly connect peripherals such as external speakers.

11. ASUS Chromebook Flip C433TA — Solid Mid-Range 2-in-1 Chromebook With a Very Responsive Keyboard

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C433TA is an elegant, convertible touchscreen laptop with a 360-degree hinge for quick and easy switching between the two modes. It features a 14″ FullHD touchscreen display with ultra-slim bezels and an 85% screen-to-body ratio, so it’s a good option for both work and entertainment.

When it comes to performance, the Intel M3-8100Y processor and 4Gb RAM are enough to support all standard Chromebook functionality, so you’ll be able to create Google Docs, work in Spreadsheets, browse the web, use social media and emails, hop on video calls, and perform most similar tasks.

The keyboard and touchpad are extremely responsive, which makes the ASUS Chromebook Flip C433TA great for content writers as well. The tactile keys are nicely spaced out, so it shouldn’t take long for you to adjust if you’re switching over from a desktop keyboard.

Another strong suit of this model is its relatively long battery life. You’ll be able to use it in both tablet and laptop modes for over 10 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough to complete the day’s work.

12. HUAWEI MateBook D15 — Solid Performance, Improved Cooling, and a Great 15.6″ Display 

The HUAWEI MateBook D15 is another excellent notebook, designed for maximum comfort during your eight-hour work shifts, thanks to a flicker-free, anti-glare IPS display with minimal blue light emissions.

This model also features an improved cooling system over its predecessors, which improves heat dissipation and prevents it from heating up, all the while staying deathly silent.

When it comes to performance, the 11th-gen Intel CPU is reasonably fast, and 8 Gb of RAM should be more than enough for most work apps.

An interesting feature of this laptop is that you can easily sync it with Huawei phones. This will allow you to drag and drop files from your smartphone to edit them on a larger screen, as well as answer phone calls on MateBook.

Another useful feature is the fingerprint ID login, which makes it virtually impossible for anyone else to log into your laptop and access your sensitive work documents.

The average battery life of the HUAWEI MateBook D15 is also decent for a notebook, but it’s just shy of eight hours, so you’ll have to carry a charger with you.

Comparing the Best Laptop Computers for Business

Here’s a quick reference table with all the key info on each of the 12 laptops on our list so you can see how they compare head-to-head and find one that meets your needs and fits within your budget.

Factors to Consider When Buying Laptops for Office and Business Use

When choosing between different laptop models, there are a few key factors you should pay attention to. Here’s a brief rundown of all the core aspects you should consider to ensure you buy the best possible work laptop that will help you get work done quickly and efficiently:

Performance

If you do any work that relies on resource-intensive programs and apps, such as video editing, graphic design, and 3D modelling, you’ll need a powerful laptop with a fast CPU, a lot of RAM, and a good graphics card.

In that case, you should carefully consider different laptops’ specs and compare their benchmarks to ensure you buy a machine that can help you get work done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

On the other hand, if you need a laptop for less complex tasks, like answering emails, writing in Google Docs, attending client meetings, or working in spreadsheets, you can save a lot of money by opting for a budget or a mid-range laptop since virtually any configuration will easily handle these.

Display

The size of the screen, the type of display, and the maximum resolution of the laptop are crucial for anyone in a creative field.

For example, if you’re a freelance graphic designer, you’d want to invest in a laptop with great colour accuracy, as well as good contrast and brightness, in order to see all the nuances and colour hues clearly.

You’d also want a decent display if you plan on using the laptop for entertainment, specifically for watching YouTube videos, TV shows, and movies on online streaming platforms like Netflix.

Portability

A work laptop generally needs to be light and portable, so it’s not a hassle to carry it around with you on business trips and conferences, to meetings, or anywhere else you might want to work from.

We also recommend investing in a high-quality laptop bag since it’ll make it easier to carry and less prone to scratches and damage from bumps and drops.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best work-home laptop, you might prioritise screen size over portability so you can get the best of both worlds.

Battery Life

The best laptop for business in the UK needs to have at least 10 hours of average battery life, so you can go the full workday on a single charge. It also needs to come with a UK charger or power adapter, so make sure to read the product description, or you might get a US charger that you won’t be able to use.

Upgradability

The best laptops to buy are the ones that will last you at least three to five years. Given that it’s such a long-term investment, it’s always a good idea to opt for a model that can be upgraded with additional RAM and more storage.

Unfortunately, not many laptops allow you to do this. Most of them are difficult to open and don’t have any additional room for an extra SSD or a RAM stick.

That’s why we recommend choosing a model with 16 Gb of RAM from the get-go if you want to multitask, as well as going for one with a microSD card reader for that extra storage.

Alternatively, you can always rely on cloud storage, but that comes with the added costs of a monthly subscription to the cloud storage service.

Price

When it comes to the question of “what is the best laptop to buy,” you shouldn’t look at the price tag alone but rather at how much value you’re getting for your money.

That’s why you should be looking at several models to get a better idea of what level of performance you can expect and ensure you don’t end up overpaying for a sub-par laptop.

Conclusion – What’s the Best Laptop to Buy for Business in 2024?

As you’ve seen from our reviews, there are many great laptops at a variety of price points, so you have plenty of options at your disposal. Which one will be the best for you largely depends on the type of work you do.

The apps and programs you’re using to get the job done will dictate how powerful a laptop you’ll need, and some industries, like graphic design, will seek a top-end display with superb colour accuracy.

Based on our research, we recommend the Apple 2020 MacBook Air as the overall best lightweight business laptop with powerful specs, a great display, lots of connectivity options, and solid battery life.

Best Business Laptop UK FAQs

Aleksandar Stevanovic

Software Reviews Expert

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Aleksandar Stevanovic

Software Reviews Expert

Aleksandar Stevanovic spent 10 years honing his craft as a freelance content writer. He has a degree in Economics, and extensive experience in software, crypto, and cybersecurity industries. He covers a multitude of topics, writing factual and informative articles, helping individuals better understand the intricacies of the online world. Over the last two years, his research focus shifted more towards tech and software content, as evidenced by his publications on CEX.IO, Business2Community, and Techopedia. He believes in simplifying complex topics and bringing them closer to like-minded individuals. His work is as detail-oriented as it is creative, and is designed to…

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